AUGUST 13, 1861

Stone was standing by the window looking out. Elena saw him and sashayed over. She looked out the window, too. “Do you like her?”

Stone turned and saw Elena, “Huh?”

“I’ve seen you looking at her a lot.”

“So is there a crime against looking?” He walked back over to the barn.

“You don’t have to get so mad. I was just asking.” She watched as Stone wiped down the bar. “Well, you should know that she tried to get Jimmy Hickok, he’s a Pony Express rider, to marry her by lying to him, but it didn’t happen. She lost him. He went back to his girlfriend, Lee.” He looked up and she could tell that he was still angry. “I just thought you should know.” She sashayed back to the bar. “But if that doesn’t bother you, her name is Jewel, and she works at the Pony Express Gazette. Her and her sisters own it.” After a few moments of silence, Elena sighed. Stone was a tough one. He rarely talked and when he did, he talked down to her, as though she was beneath him, but if he didn’t like the type of girl she was then why had he come to work there in the first place. Bored Elena decided to seek out Vanessa.

After Elena left, Stone went back to the window. He had been trying for the past several days to run into Jewel but with no success. He watched as she crossed the street heading to the bank. Maybe this was his chance. He had a few dollars that he could put in the bank. The bordello didn’t have anybody in it at all. It didn’t usually get crowded until long after suppertime during the week, sooner on the weekends. He could run over to the bank and be back before anybody even knew that he was gone. He looked behind him to make sure that Dean, Elena, Vanessa or Anjanette wasn’t around. They weren’t, so he left the building.

Jewel handed over a few dollars to Ted. She was trying to pay back the money that she had taken out of her grandpa’s account, but this piddling’ newspaper job hardly paid much. If only she had a better job, then she’d have lots of money. She would have to talk to her brother about the train when he returned. Half the train was hers anyway, and she should be getting some money out of it. She turned to leave, and Ted said, “Goodbye Jewel.”

Jewel didn’t turn around, but she did have the courtesy to reply. “Goodbye Ted.”

Just as Jewel opened the door and took a step forward she ran into a man. Startled she backed up. She had never seen this man before.

“Oh excuse me ma’am.” Stone took off his hat and smiled. “I’m very sorry. Are you alright?”

She smiled and said, “I’m fine.”

“Oh, where are my manners? “I’m Stone.”

“Stone?” Jewel inquired.

“Guthrie Stone, but my friends just call me Stone, ma’am.”

Jewel nodded. “I’m Jewel Hunnewell, please to make your acquaintance Mr. . . . uh Stone.”

“It’s a pleasure ma’am, but no mister, just Stone.”

By the tone of his voice and the way he was looking at her, Jewel could tell that he was smitten with her, and why shouldn’t he be. After all she was very beautiful. “Ummm . . . well, Stone I was just going to have lunch at the Silver Spoon.” She paused hoping that he would ask her to have lunch with him that way she wouldn’t have to spend any of her money.

Stone nodded and put his hat back on. “Well . . . ummm . . . well, let me get out of your way. Stone turned sideways and backed up to let Jewel pass.

Jewel frowned but stepped out and closed the door behind her. Slowly she stepped down off the porch hoping that he might still ask her to lunch. She turned back and smiled at him. He smiled back at her. Oh well, why always wait till the man asks the girl? She turned back and looked down towards the Silver Spoon. As though talking to herself, she said, “You know I wouldn’t mind some company for lunch.” She started to walk slowly.

“Uh Miss Jewel, would you like some company for lunch?” Stone asked. She turned around and nodded. “Ok, I need to do something first, but can I meet you at the Silver Spoon?”

Jewel nodded again. “I’ll see you at the Silver Spoon in a few minutes.”

Stone nodded. He watched as she walked down the street and into the restaurant. Then he went back to the bordello and asked Anjanette to keep an eye on the bar while he took his lunch break because Dean was over at the livery stable.